and the obama folks were there, axelrod and cover, messina. they were not telling a good story. they were saying that this doesn't -- this is not definitive. basically it's theatrics. some of this and talking points you heard today. the question is, what it means long-term. clearly the president has set the bar, the expectation is pretty low for debate. lou: and one could be forgiven for thinking that it was, perhaps, i wrote a dope strategy. over a longer time than most people would have expected. but given that, the way in which the left has responded your, i mean, they have been vicious to their own, their leader. this is supposed to be the great one. and he is being treated today, i think by the left in many cases far worse than he has been treated by anyone on the right. >> you're right. ms in b.c., it was quite something to watch some of that coverage. and today congressman rangel said that the president just looked bored, like he did not want to be present. you have people out there saying that. it's obviously not helpful to the campaign. the president tried to bounce bac